Related Programs

The Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) is a long-range, air-to-ground surveillance system designed to locate, classify and track ground targets in all weather conditions. While flying in friendly airspace, the joint Army-Air Force program can look deep behind hostile borders to detect and track ground movements in both forward and rear areas. It has a range of more than 150 miles (250 km). These capabilities make Joint STARS effective for dealing with any contingency, whether actual or impending military aggression, international treaty verification, or border violation.

The program was initially known as JSTARS, and subsequently designated Joint STARS. With the transition of the system to operational status with Air Combat Command, systems names currently under consideration include Sentinel II [aircraft previously named Sentinel include the World War II vintage Army Air Forces Stinson L5 and the Marine Corps Convair OY-1 and OY-2 light observation aircraft, and the unbuilt Lockheed P-3 airborne early warning and control aircraft proposal of 1984], Excalibur [a name once considered for the B-1B Lancer], and Night Owl.